Means of mounting contacts in electrical receptacles



Feb. 5, 1957 H. HUBBELL 2,730,799

MEANS FOR MOUNTING CONTACTS IN ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES Filed Aug. 9, 1950HT W 252W?! Zhwcntor BB 74A W United States Patent 9 MEANS OF MOUNTINGCONTACTS IN ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES Harvey Hubbell, Long Hill, Conm,assignor to Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn., acorporation of Connecticut Application August 9, 1950, Serial No. 178,398

4 Claims. (Cl. 339-164) This invention relates to electric outletreceptacles such as wall outlets or the like, adapted for use with plugconnectors to connect various electric fixtures to a house circuit, forexample.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved and simplifiedconstruction of electric outlet receptacle.

Heretofore, outlet receptacles of this type have usually comprised abody member of insulating material having chambers and passages in whichare mounted current conducting elements, and a separate cover member hasbeen secured to the body member to protect and enclose the conductingelements and retain them in place in the body member. Like the bodymember, the cover is of insulating material. In making such devices ithas, of course, been necessary to assemble the conducting elements inthe base member, then apply the cover thereto and then fasten the coverby means of screws or the like. Such an assembling operation is timeconsuming and adds substantially to the cost of manufacture.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electric receptacleconstructed and arranged to eliminate any necessity for a separate coverto protect or retain in place the current conducting elements.

A still further object is to provide an outlet receptacle in which thecurrent conducting elements are automatically retained in operativeposition upon being pushed into place in the insulating body member.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have i devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part ofthis specification. it is, however, to be understood the invention isnot limited to the specific details of construction and arrangementshown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scopeof the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of an outlet receptacle constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a partial transverse section through one end portion of theconstruction shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, with an associated plugconnector shown in elevation, and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one end of a contact strip forming apart of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an electric receptaclehaving a body member 11 of suitable insulating material. The receptacleshown is of the duplex type having a pair of blade-receiving slots 12 inthe front face 13 at each end, through which the contact blades 14 of aplug connector 15 can be inserted in the usual manner into adjacentchambers 16 formed in the body member 11. Each bladeneceiving slot 12 islocated in the front face 13 at a point adjacent the inner wall 17 ofthe associated chamber 16, as shown in Fig. 4.

An entrance opening 18 communicates with the opposite side of eachchamber 16 through the rear face 19 of the body member 11 at a pointadjacent the outer wall 21 of each chamber, as shown in Fig. 4. A retaining and positioning shoulder 22 for holding and positioning a conductingelement, as hereafter described, is formed by a ledge 23 on the bodymember 11 adjacent the inner wall 17 of each chamber 16 next to eachentrance opening 18 and opposite the blade entrance 12, the ledge 23extending across a portion only of the inner edge of each opening 18, asshown in Fig. 1. A conductor stripreceiving slot 24 opens through theback 19 of the body member 11 and connects the contact receiving chamber16 with a recess 25 formed in the side face 26 of the body member 11 fora purpose to be described.

As illustrated, current-conducting element 27 comprises a blade-engagingcontact flange 28 extending outwardly at an angle from an offset contactplate 29 connected to a contact strip 31 by an angularly arrangedsection 32 of the contact strip 31, see Fig. 5. A positioning flange 33extends outwardly from the oifset contact plate 29 at substantially aright angle along the edge of the plate opposite to the blade-engagingcontact flange 28 and in the opposite direction from such flange 28. Ina duplex receptacle such as shown in the drawing, a single strip 31 hascontact plates 29 and flanges 28 at each end, and a separate strip 31 ispositioned in each of separate slots 24, 24a, see Fig. 1, adjacent eachside of the body member 11 for connection to the two sides of anelectric circuit such as a house wiring circuit. As illustrated, twobinding screws are secured to each strip 31 to connect the usual leadwires thereto. Each binding screw 34 extends through an opening 35 inthe associated strip 31 and is threaded through a washer 36 seating in anon-circular Washer-retaining seat 37 in the end of a bore 38 in thebottom 38a of the recess 25 to accommodate the end of the associatedbinding screw 34 and increase the length of thread for mounting theconductor clamping or binding screw 34.

The inherent flexibility of the conducting strip 31 and the angularsection 32 is employed to automatically retain the conducting elementsin place in the body member upon insertion therein, without requiring aseparate cover member, or the like. This flexibility is sufiicient toallow the offset end plates 29 with flanges 28 at opposite ends of thestrip 31 to be sprung laterally against the inherent spring action whenthe strip 31 is inserted into the strip-receiving slot 24, as indicatedin broken lines 23a in Figs. 1 and 4, so that the entire conductingelement can be pushed into the chamber 16 and slot 24, the contact plate29 sliding across the ledge 23. As it enters the chamber 16 past theledge 23 each flange 28 and contact plate 29 spring back behind theassociated ledge 23 and locking shoulder 22, see Fig. 4, toautomatically retain the conductor strip assembly in operative positionwith the flange 28 located opposite the blade-receiving slot 12, andproperly spaced from the inner wall 17 of the chamber 16 by the flange33 to provide a blade-receiving space 40 into which the blade 1 3 on aconnector cap can be pushed. The width of the conducting strip 31 issuch that the entire strip is housed within the confines of the slot 24when the contact plates 29 are is cated in the chambers 16 behind thelocking shoulders 22. see Fig. 3. As indicated in 4, when the blades 14of a contact plug 15 are inserted into the blade-receiving slots 12,they engage the respective blade contact flanges 2S and are therebydirected into the spaces 40 to contact the plates 29 and complete thedesired circuit.

No separate cover is required either to hold the current conductingelements in place or to insulate them, as they are held in place by thelocking shoulder 22 engaging the flange 33, and no part of the strip isexposed exceptat thebottom of the recess 25 adjacent the binding screws34.

The specific details of the invention as described and illustrated canbe variously modified and adapted within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus set forth the nature ofmy invention, I claim: 7

1. An outlet receptacle comprising'a body member of insulating materialhaving a blade-receiving slot in the front face thereof communicatingwith a contact-receiving chamber in said body member, said body memberhaving an open recess in one side thereof and a narrowconductor-strip-receiving slot between and connecting said chamber andsaid recess and opening outwardly through the back face of said bodymember, said body provided with an entrance opening extending throughsaid back face to said chamber forming an enlarged ex tension of saidstrip-receiving slot, an inwardly facing shoulder extending part wayonly across the entrance to said chamber forming an inwardly facinglocking surface in said chamber adjacent said entrance opening, acurrent-conducting element comprising a substantially flat strip andinsertable into said chamber through said entrance opening when saidstrip is inserted in said stripreceiving slot, a shoulder engaging edgeon said contact over said shoulder in said chamber to retain saidcontact in said chamber and said strip in said slot, said strip beingflexible and resilient so as to flex to permit said blade-engagingcontact to be inserted through said opening and to pass said shoulderwhen said element is inserted into said slot and to then snap intoposition behind said shoulder to engage said-locking surface and retainsaid element in place, and lead wire connecting means on said strip insaid recess in the side of said body member. t r

2. A duplex outlet receptacle comprising a body member of insulatingmaterial having blade-receiving slots in the front face thereof atopposite ends, each slot communicating with a contact-receiving chamberin the adjacent end of said body member, said body member having openrecesses in opposite sides thereof between said chambers and a separatenarrow conductor-stripreceiving slot connecting each chamber and saidrecess adjacent each side of said body member and opening outwardlythrough the back face of said body member, and said body being providedwith a separate entrance opening through said back face communicatingwith each chamber at each end of said strip-receiving slots, a ledgeextending inwardly from one side of each chamber-forming an inwardlyfacing shoulder in each chamber adjacent the associated entranceopening, a current conduct ing element comprising a substantially fiatconductor strip inserted into each of said strip-receiving slots, ablade-engaging contact at each end of each strip inserted into saidchambers in alignment with the blade-receiving slots in the front faceof the body member through said entrance openings, said elements beingflexible and resilient to permit said blade-engaging contacts beingshifted laterally to enter said chambers past the free edges of saidledges when said strips are inserted in said strip-receiving slots andthen snap into position in back of said ledges over said shoulders toretain said elements in said body member, and binding screws mounted onsaid strips in each of said recesses.

3. An outlet receptacle comprising an elongated body member ofinsulatingmaterial provided with a contact receiving chamber and a contactblade-receiving slot in its front face leading to the chamber, said bodybeing also provided with an open recess in its side wall to receive abinding screw for connection of a lead wire and a narrow slot openingthrough the rear wall of the body extending between the chamber and saidrecess and communicating therewith, said body further provided with anentrance opening in its rear wall leading to said chamber, a ledgeextending inwardly from one side of said opening over a portion only ofsaid opening and providing an inwardly facing shoulder, and a contactassembly comprising a substantially 'flat conductor strip seated in saidnarrow slot, a-blade engaging contact connected to said strip adjacentone end and located in said chamber in alignment with theblade-receiving slot in the front face of the body member, a portion ofthe strip lying adjacent the inner wall of said side recess and carryinga binding screw, the end portion of the strip carrying the contact beinglocated at the inner side of said shoulder and cooperating therewith toform the means of securing said assembly in the body, and said conductorstrip being resilient so that as it is inserted in its slot this endportion may be flexed laterally to pass by the free edge of the ledgeinto the chamber and then spring backwardly behind the ledge and overthe shoulder to retain the conductor strip and contact in the body.

4. An outlet receptacle comprising an elongated body member ofinsulating material provided with laterally spaced contact receivingchambers adjacent its opposite ends and contact blade receiving slots inits front wall leading to said chambers, said body being also providedwith an open recess in each side wall between said chambers to receiveconnecting means for lead wires and narrow slots opening through itsrear wall extending between and communicating with said recess and theadjacent chambers, said body further provided with an entrance'openingin its rear wall leading to each chamber, a ledge extending inwardlyfrom one side of each opening partway only across the opening andforming an inwardly facing shoulder in each chamber at one side of theadjacent opening, and a conductor assembly comprisin a substantiallyfiat conductor strip extending across each side recess and seated in thenarrow slots on each side of the body, said assembly including a bladeengaging contact at each end of the "strip located in the adjacentchambers in alignment with the bladereceiving slots in the front wall ofthe body member, the end portions of each strip being located behind theshoulders in the chambers and cooperating therewith to retain theassembly in the narrow slots and connected chambers, said conductorstrip being flexible and resilient so that as it is inserted in itsslots each end portion may be flexed laterally to pass by the free edgeof the ledge into its chamber and then spring backwardly behind theledge over the shoulder, and means on the strips in the side recessesfor connecting lead wires thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,786,292 De Reamer 'Dec. 23, 1930 1,983,511 Johnson Dec. 4,.19341,989,890 Slade et a1. Feb. 5, 1935 2,003,948 Mess June 4, 19352,078,885 Wack Apr. 27, 1937

